Life Transition

Grief is never easy. But what if you started feeling its weight before a loss even happens? This is the reality for many people who experience anticipatory grief: a wave of sadness and anxiety that arrives in advance of a major loss, often when a loved one is seriously ill…

James Lavino’s first big break came by way of Winnie the Pooh. Spending his 20s in New York (circa the late 1990s), Lavino found himself composing scores for his friends’ documentary films and dipping his hand in whatever creative endeavors came his way—including editing at the literary magazine “The Paris…

The only constant in life is change. Have you heard that one before? It’s a popular adage – but it doesn’t make navigating life transitions any easier.  What does make navigating life transitions easier is having an arsenal of coping strategies handy as well as a mental health professional who…

Grief is something most people would rather avoid. But inevitably, the emotional whirlwind of grief and bereavement is a process each of us goes through in our lifetime. Grief is about loss—a loss of any kind, whether it’s the death of a family member, pet, the end of a relationship,…

Coming out as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community takes a lot of courage—and for those who are coming out later in life, it can be even more difficult. Adult LGBTQIA+ members may have built a life around an identity that they no longer associate themselves with. Their interpersonal relationships,…

Thinking about arriving at your new destination might be exciting, but getting there is often anything but. Moving can churn up some seriously intense levels of stress; anyone who’s ever relocated to a new home or apartment may understand the feeling well. Relocating can be difficult to manage, without us…

Moving to a new city can serve as a positive change in your life, which might explain why so many do make that move: as up to 63% of Americans have moved to a new place at least once, compared to the 37% who’ve never left their hometowns.  That said,…

A common misconception is that as we age, we stop having sex or lose interest in sex altogether. This simply isn’t true, as supported by a recent University of Michigan/AARP poll of 1,000 older adults, or those between 65 and 80 years old.  This poll found that nearly two-thirds of…

Any life transition can come with an unhealthy dose of stress. And when you feel overwhelmed, you might find that performing necessary tasks becomes nearly impossible. When you’re going through a major move, this kind of knee-jerk reaction is expected; unfortunately, it also comes when you need to be on…

All of my grandparents chose to age in place. In fact, most senior citizens older than retirement age do. It’s nothing new, and as our population grows, it will likely become even more common. So, what is “aging in place,” and why is it so prevalent in our society? It’s…

New research found that middle aged US adults are experiencing rising feelings of despair, indicated by increases in depression, suicidal ideation, drug and alcohol abuse. A drop in US life expectancy was seen in 2016 and explained by an increase in deaths among middle-aged white individuals in rural areas due…

Marriage can be beautiful. It can also be incredibly problematic and end in divorce. In fact, according to the American Psychological Association, just about 40 to 50% of couples divorce. And the divorce rate for second, third, and other subsequent marriages is even higher. The main causes for divorce? Here…